The Rolling Maul

Mike and Elliott welcome in 2024 with Tigers hooker Charlie Clare as the rehabbing stalwart chats injury, how the squad is pulling together with some huge games on the horizon, and Christmas feasts.  Plus, we review a solid 5 point win over Bath to finish 2023 on a high, look ahead to a crunch encounter (and double-header with the women's side!) against Saracens, as well as pumping out some juicy rumours for Jasper's replacement in the 8 shirt...

Mike and Elliott are joined by BBC Radio Leicester host Adam Whitty to revel in a young Tigers' side's remarkable win away against French giants Stade Francais, paying special homage to the Vane Train and Harry Wells, the Prince of Paris, in the process.

We also look ahead to a tough and pivotal fixture against a superbly drilled Exeter side at Sandy Park, as well as looking at potential replacements following the sad news that Jasper Wiese will be off at the end of the season.

Mike and Elliott breathe a sigh of relief after seeing the Tigers avoid a major banana skin against the heavily rotated Stormers in the Champions Cup and wonder what it must be like to incur the wrath of McKellar.  We also check out some frightening options for the 13 jersey for our Nails XV and look ahead to a challenging trip to Paris to face old rivals Stade Francais.

Mike and Elliott sit on their soggy bottoms to chat to the people's champion of the Great British Bake Off and huge Tigers fan, Dr Josh Smalley, about his experiences in the tent, playing rugby and following Leicester through thick and thin.  Plus, we keep things high brow by chatting to Charles Richardson of the Daily Telegraph about the big home win against Newcastle, before turning our attention to the Champions Cup opener at Welford Road against South African side, the Stormers.

Mike (battling illness) and Elliott review the latest victory at Kingsholm where Tigers produced a long-awaited, if not entirely seamless, bonus point win.  We also look ahead to a home fixture against table-proppers Newcastle, and list out the candidates for the fly half jersey in the Nails XV.

Mike and Elliott are joined by East Midlands derby veteran and Tigers legend George Chuter to review a scappy yet hugely important win over Northampton, reminiscing about his silky ball skills in the process.  Plus, commentator Sam Roberts joins us to talk about the upcoming Slater Cup match against Gloucester and his work with the ex-Tigers and Cheery-and-Whites favourite, and we find time to name the toughest, lippiest scrum half to have ever worn the Leicester jersey.

Mike and Elliott find that a sober rewatch of a frustrating loss to Quins shows real signs of progression, and are then joined by former Leicester Mercury journalist Bobby Bridge, now plying his trade at Franklins Gardens having turned to the dark side, to look ahead to the East Midlands derby.  Plus, we chat to young hooker Archie Vanes about coming through the ranks as a budding member of the ABC club, and how the team will fix their lineout worries.

Mike and Elliott pick apart a tough loss at Saracens where the major talking point was one side resting their returning World Cup stars, and the other...well...not.  We find shoots of promise before turning our attention to a home fixture against Quins which should see some serious cavalry return, as well as naming some niggly little so-and-sos as options for the 9 shirt in our Nails XV.

Mike and Elliott reflect on two significant kicks over the weekend, Jamie's Shillcock's last minute winner against Bath, and the kick in the preverbials as we come to terms with rumours that Rugby Australia want Dan McKellar to replace the disastrous Eddie Jones.  Plus, we speak to Fezcast ahead of the game against Saracens and take a peek at some bully-boy number 8s for our Nails XV.

Mike and Elliott return from their (separate!) trips abroad to find Tigers still struggling to find their groove against Sale.  We try to decipher where things are going wrong during a disappointing start, look ahead to a tricky trip to the Rec to play an in-form Bath side, and Mike reveals his dislike of American tour groups.